The Boot News Roundup: A New Single From Sugarland Is Coming Soon + More

Welcome to The Boot's News Roundup, a morning rundown of the news country music fans need to know. Read on to learn more about the latest goings-on in the country, Americana, bluegrass and folk genres.

On Dec. 21, Sugarland will release their first single in five years. Titled "Still the Same," the song will officially impact country radio in early 2018. “We are thrilled for fans to hear our new music, especially this new single,” says the duo's Jennifer Nettles in a press release. “The title of the song is so meaningful to us as we want fans to know, we are still the same, we are still the same Sugarland they’ve known and loved."

Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

In 2018, Americana icon John Prine will return to the road with a slate of newly announced tour dates. Prine will kick off his 2018 tour in New York City alongside co-headliner Sturgill Simpson at Radio City Music Hall and conclude his trek on June 2 in Norfolk, Va., with support from Margo Price. He'll also make stops in Philadelphia, Pa.; Milwaukee, Wis.; Chicago, Ill.; and Folsom, Calif., along with stops additional cities that will be announced in the near future. Fans will get to hear new music from Prine — his first in 13 years — in 2018 as well, though no release date for the project has been announced just yet.

Rick Diamond, Getty Images

Dierks Bentley has been announced as the recipient of the CRS 2018 Artist Humanitarian Award. Given by the Country Radio Seminar to artists who have "exhibited exception humanitarian efforts," Bentley joins Zac Brown, Keith Urban, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill and Brad Paisley (among others) as a recipient of the award. Bentley will be presented with the trophy at the 2018 Country Radio Seminar, which will run Feb. 5-7 in Nashville.

Matt Winkelmeyer, Getty Images for ACM

Country up-and-comer Morgan Wallen has announced that he will hit the road in 2018 on his Up Down Tour. Sponsored by Shiner Light Blonde, Wallen's 2018 trek will include headlining shows in Buffalo, N.Y.; San Diego, Calif.; Columbus, Ohio, and more, in support of his rising single "Up Down," which is currently making its way up the Billboard Country Airplay chart. Wallen will begin the tour in Indianapolis, Ind., on Feb. 2 and conclude it in Las Vegas, Nev., on April 28.

Ethan Miller, Getty Images

In addition to being crowned People's Sexiest Man Alive for 2017, Blake Shelton has also landed on the magazine's list of the year's most intriguing people. When presented with the award, Shelton told the magazine that they "must be running out of people." Fortunately, his partner Gwen Stefani was on hand to tell the magazine just how "talented and genuine and cool and generous" the singer really is.

Rick Diamond, Getty Images

Walker Hayes is also set to hit 13 cities in 2018 in support of his Top 15 single "You Broke Up With Me" and his newly released debut album Boom. The artist has announced his Good as Gold Tour, which include stops in Boston, Mass.; Bakersfield, Calif.; and Indianapolis, Ind. Hayes kicks off the tour on Feb. 1 in Uncasville, Conn.; and will conclude the trek in San Martin, Calif., on April 27.

Rick Diamond, Getty Images

Jason Isbell and Lukas Nelson will both have songs in the forthcoming feature film A Star Is Born. Directed by Bradley Cooper and starring Lady Gaga, the movie follows a "fading crooner" and his relationship with a talented up-and-comer. Isbell worked directly with Cooper to develop a song for the film, while Nelson worked closely with Lady Gaga, who contributed backup vocals to a song on his band's most recent album. A Star Is Born is set for a theatrical release on May 18.